This week, I have walked pre- 6 am on a walking/biking trail next to a well-traveled street. That early in the morning, there isn’t a lot of traffic, wheeled or legged. It is nice and quiet so that I can enjoy the heavy humid air, sweaty skin, and a really good book. Really good books are really good for taking you out of your reality and placing you into an alternate space, but there ARE occasions that I have to rewind 30 seconds online because I was distracted by a robin and worm or a cute dog on a leash or the sunrise…or a ridiculously loud truck with wheels too big and exhaust pipe meant for a tugboat.

Once upon a time not too long ago in our transition back to the metro, my sister introduced me to bike trails and common courtesy. Who knew, not me.

As we rode along between the trees, she instructed that when we were approaching someone ahead of us going in the same direction, it was kind to give them fair warning. Before we passed them, she would say, “On the left!” loud enough they would be able to hear but not so loud that they would jump. It would give them time to move to the right to give us room with our bikes, and it would let them know we were there so they would not be startled. It works very well. I taught that concept to my grandchildren when they spent a week with us last year and we all went riding on the trails.

It isn’t just for bikers. It works really well if you happen to be a jogger, too. And it works really well when you aren’t on a trail but on a sidewalk.

You know what? There are quite a few uneducated joggers and bikers in these parts. My heart can attest to that.

I suppose at 2 pm in the middle of the afternoon, one might expect a lot of trail traffic and just dismiss left lane passers. But 6 am quiet of the day surprises are walking defibrillators. You might think a walker could hear the foot pound of a jogger or the whir of bike wheels approaching from behind. Nay nay. When sweaty walkers are listening to chapter 7 and the story is getting soooo good and taking their mind off the misery of the sweaty walking, they do not hear the approach.

All this to say,

I am grateful my sister taught me common courtesy.

I am grateful my heart is still ticking.

I am grateful for the rewind 30 seconds button.

I am grateful for quiet Dodge Rams.

I am grateful for civilization at pre- 6 am so that I am not completely alone out there.

I am grateful for common courtesy, rare as it may be.

Oh. And I am grateful for flowers from my sister’s yard. They gave me a very nice heart jolt every time I walked into the room.